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Published 24 August 1992 in the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
Cartoon misrepresented NRA's philosophy
The thoroughly biased editorial cartoon by Benson which appeared in the News & Record's Aug. 10 issue was based on misrepresentations that bordered on outright lies.
The cartoon portrayed two young men leaving a music store with one lamenting, "Bummer, dude. They're no longer stocking 'Cop Killer.'" Next door at the "Gun Fun" "gun store," a man holding a revolver and a rifle gleefully proclaims, "We are!" Signs in the "gun store" window read "Proud member of the NRA" and "Sale on assault weapons--Teflon bullets 20% off."
The cartoon implied that the National Rifle Association and its nearly three million members support and sponsor cop killing. This libelous implication is diametrically opposed to the truth.
The NRA has always supported law enforcement. Two of the NRA's stated purposes are "to promote public safety (and), law and order" and "to train law enforcement agencies ... in marksmanship and safe handling and efficient use of small arms."
"Gun-control" advocates inappropriately refer to military-style semi-automatic rifles as "assault weapons" and erroneously claim that they are "the criminals' weapon of choice." According to FBI studies, such rifles are used in less than 1% of firearms-related crime.
"Gun-control" advocates perpetuate the lie that the NRA opposed restrictions on "Teflon-coated" or "cop-killer bullets."
The original bill also would have banned up to 70% of the most commonly used hunting and sporting rounds.
The NRA properly opposed this and helped draft the final legislation that clearly defined and restricted armor-piercing ammunition while protecting sporting ammo --and law enforcement officers.
James M. Wallace
Greensboro, NC
Original unedited Letter to the Editor as submitted to the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
To the Editor:
The thoroughly biased editorial cartoon by Benson which appeared in the News & Record's August 10 issue was based on misrepresentations that bordered on outright lies.
The cartoon portrayed two young men leaving a music store with one lamenting, "Bummer, dude. They're no longer stocking 'Cop Killer.'" Next door at the "Gun Fun" "gun store," a man holding a revolver and a rifle gleefully proclaims, "We are!" Signs in the "gun store" window read "Proud member of the NRA" and "Sale on assault weapons--Teflon bullets 20% off."
The cartoon implied that the National Rifle Association and its nearly three million members support and sponsor cop killing. This libelous implication is diametrically opposed to the truth.
The NRA has always supported law enforcement. Two of the NRA's stated purposes are "to promote public safety [and] law and order" and "to train law enforcement agencies ... in marksmanship and safe handling and efficient use of small arms."
Benson's cartoon rests on the unwarranted hysteria over "assault weapons" and "cop-killer bullets" created by "gun-control" advocates.
"Gun-control" advocates inappropriately refer to military-style semi-automatic rifles as "assault weapons" and erroneously claim that they are "the criminals' weapon of choice." According to FBI studies, such rifles are used in less than 1% of firearms-related crime.
"Gun-control" advocates perpetuate the lie that the NRA opposed restrictions on "Teflon-coated" or "cop-killer bullets." The original bill also would have banned up to 70% of the most commonly used hunting and sporting rounds. The NRA properly opposed this and helped draft the final legislation that clearly defined and restricted armor-piercing ammunition while protecting sporting ammo --and law enforcement officers.
As a "proud member of the NRA," I was appalled that my local newspaper would publish such unabashed and shameful propaganda. I call on the News & Record to exercise more professionalism in the future.
James M. Wallace
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